Mark 16:1-7 NIV When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. [2] Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb [3] and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” [4] But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. [5] As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. [6] “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. [7] But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”
He arose (1–8). Because they forgot His resurrection promises, the women were in sorrow and worrying about the future: “Who will roll away the stone?” When they learned that Jesus was alive, their first response was fear and not faith; but then they became the first heralds of the Resurrection. The angel had a special word for Peter (v. 7) who was no doubt still grieving his sins. The living Christ gives you something to rejoice in, something to talk about, and something to look forward to. He goes before you!
Easter is of paramount importance to Christians for several reasons, reflecting the core of Christian faith and theology.
Here are three central reasons to rejoice in Easter:
Resurrection of Jesus Christ:
- Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion.
- This event is the fulfillment of the promises made in the Old Testament and the definitive proof of Jesus’ divine nature.
- The resurrection is central to Christian belief because it demonstrates Jesus’ victory over sin and death, affirming the belief in life after death for all who believe in Him (1 Corinthians 15:17-20).
Foundation of Christian Faith:
- The Apostle Paul stated that if Christ has not been raised, the Christian faith is futile, and believers are still in their sins (1 Corinthians 15:17).
- The resurrection is thus foundational to the Christian faith; it validates Jesus’ teachings, His sacrificial death for the sins of humanity, and His claims of divinity.
- Without the resurrection, the crucifixion would be the end of the story, making the hope of salvation and eternal life void.
Promise of Eternal Life:
- Easter embodies the promise of eternal life for Christians.
- The resurrection of Jesus is seen as the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep (died in faith), promising believers resurrection and eternal life with God.
- This hope of resurrection and new life begins now through spiritual renewal and transformation and culminates in the believer’s own resurrection to eternal life (John 11:25-26).
- Easter, therefore, is not just a historical event to be remembered; it is a current reality that influences how Christians live their lives, offering hope, joy, and the promise of redemption and renewal.
For The Believer, Easter Means:
- God can move mountains
- Split seas
- Restore life
- Roll away stones
The Message:
Peter (the redeemed) states it well:
1 Peter 1:3-9 NIV
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Note: The new birth is the work of the Holy Spirit not human will (see Jn 3:3–8).
- John 3:3 NIV. Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ”
6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
- Philippians 4:4-5 NIV Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Closing
Here’s a brief overview of key witnesses and what is known or traditionally believed about their fates:
Mary Magdalene: According to the Gospels, she was the first to see Jesus after his resurrection (Mark 16:9, John 20:11-18). Tradition says she spent the remainder of her life preaching the gospel before dying a natural death.
Peter: The first of the apostles to see Jesus after his resurrection (Luke 24:34, 1 Corinthians 15:5). According to Christian tradition, Peter was martyred in Rome under Emperor Nero, crucified upside down at his request, as he did not feel worthy to die in the same manner as Jesus.
The Twelve Apostles: Although Judas Iscariot was no longer among them, the remaining apostles saw Jesus on multiple occasions after his resurrection (Luke 24:36-49, John 20:19-29). Most of the apostles are believed to have been martyred for their faith, except for John, who is traditionally thought to have died of old age in exile.
Thomas: Initially doubting the resurrection, Thomas believed after seeing Jesus and touching his wounds (John 20:24-29). Tradition holds that Thomas preached the gospel in India and was martyred there.
James: Jesus appeared to his brother James (1 Corinthians 15:7). James became a leader in the early church in Jerusalem and was eventually martyred.
Paul: Although not a witness to the resurrection, Paul experienced a vision of the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19), which led to his conversion. He became a pivotal figure in the spread of Christianity and was eventually martyred in Rome.
The accounts of these encounters and the lives of those who witnessed the resurrected Jesus have been a foundational part of Christian tradition and belief.
Close
The phrase “to all who call upon His name” closely echoes a passage found in Romans 10:13 of the New Testament, which states:
“For, ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”
This verse is a quotation from Joel 2:32 in the Old Testament, which similarly states:
“And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.”